Your opinions plz - new gear for my trip

[Martijnf]

Hey guys,

As you might've seen in my intro thread I'll be travelling around Australia for the next 1 or 2 years, starting next month. Since I used to love to fish here and your country has so many more and better opportunities to do so, I wanna make the most of that.

Although I am backpacking and have a limited budget (don't want to have to work too much while I'm over there :red party:) I am willing to spend a decent amount of money to get gear for 2 reasons, the first being I will use it quite a lot since I'll have a lot of time on my hands and don't want to end up replacing stuff after a few months cause it's not up to par and the second being that decent gear will be much easier to sell at the end of the trip if I want to.

Ok so I've been prowling around all the boards for a while now, been reading anything I can get my hands on and have been working out prices and options and this is what I've come up with so far.

Setup 1, beach/rocks
Shimano BTR 6500 with 25lb platypus super-100 mono
11-12' beach rod, maybe Shimano SSH or something around $100-140

Setup 2, light spin/bait
Shimano Symetre 2500Fi with 6lb spiderwire stealth and 10-15lb braid on other spool
Berkley Dropshot 2-4kg or similar shimano/Daiwa rod around $100

Setup 3, medium/hvy spin/bait
Shimano Symetre 4000Fi with 15lb mono and something like 30lb braid (Berkley Whiplash) on 2nd spool
6/8-10kg spin rod, maybe SSX Snapper Spin Hvy or something around 8-10kg

Now I'm thinking I can use the BTR6500 on the heavier spin rod as well for live baiting in situations where the 11-12' rod would be too bulky. Also I could get an extra cheap heavier rod, like a 15kg or heavier and use the symetre 4000 on that with the heavy braid. Likewise I could use the 4000 with the surf/rock rod for high speed spinning.

I've got a buddy going to the States next week who can get me the reels from there (and also the spiderwire stealth, which is why I'm using that) so they will set me back around US$250 for the three which I reckon is a pretty good deal considering it would be closer to AU$450 if I bought it in Oz.

I'll get a 500m spool of the super100 15lb and use some as backing for the braid that's going on the 2500.

I'm curious what you guys think. Please keep in mind that I won't be fishing NSW area only, but all the other coasts as well, which is why I'm maybe picking a bit heavier line..

Also I'll be mostly land-based, fishing from the beach and piers/jetties, etc. Types of fish I'll be wanting to go after are pretty much anything with fins. Obviously if I want to target the really big and heavy fish like big sharks and the like I'll need heavier gear but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, for now I'm mostly looking at being able to fish for most 'normal' species from the shore or in the rivers (esp up north).

Will this do me, or will I still run into trouble a lot? Do you have a better recommendation, etc? As far as the rods go, obviously I can't really decide about that until I am holding them in my hands in a tackle shop over there and I've picked these purely from positive reports that other people have posted, initially on the three rods I'd like to spend around AU$300-$350

Also I've looked at Alveys because they are pretty much indestructible which is a bonus on the beach, but I think their use might be more limited compared to a BTR. Also if I do find I want to fish a bit heavier sometimes with the BTR, I can order and extra spool and whack heavier line on that.

Any help and advice will be appreciated.

[garth]

hi mate,

good luck for your trip it sounds awsome.

if i were you i would be limiting my rods to 1. Maybe 2 max.

you don't wanna be backpacking and carting gear round everywhere.

if you went for two rods i would get an 8ft rod for use on rocks and beaches, jetties and put a decent baitrunner on it with 30 or 50 pound baid. that should cover you for mackeral, barra, jews, queens, gt's (though may get heavy sometimes but who cares).

Then get a 2nd light-medium weight spin outfit with 20 pound braid.

i went round oz recently and that should cover you easily for most situations.

make sure you get a cast net for up north for catching bait and also hire boats if you can. land based fishing in some areas up north is pretty hairy and makes it hard to relax due to crocs. although i dont know how much easier it is to relax in a 12ft punt (its prob even worse in some parts but you will get fish).

make sure you get to cook town. also shady camp for barra (can hire boats there) + cape levique in wa (can hire boats there).

if you can afford it then get a 4wd and put a 12ft punt on the roof and mount a 9 hp for it somewhere on the car.

pretty easy to do ok landbased in cooktown off town jetty.

just hire boats where you can. if you do it with 3 people its not that expensive.

stay up north. theres more fish there and they are more active and climates better (except wet season).

[Martijnf]

you don't wanna be backpacking and carting gear round everywhere.

I'm buying a car (landcruiser or nissan if I can't find a real 4wd ;) ) to get me around the country so carrying gear around won't be too much of a problem :)

Thanks for the info.. will keep that in mind. I do intend to stay up north/north-west for a large part of the time, the whole winter anyway up to around the end of October.

Good idea about the boat, I have been wondering if I might do that but I haven't been able to find any cheapish boats like you say.. Even though I am buying a car, I don't want to spend another couple thousand on a boat. If I can get one really cheap tho, I definately will do that as it would increase my options quite a bit. Any ideas for a good place to look for that?

[storms72]

Martin, I'v got a SSH with a 6500 on it and it suits mee fine but I would recommend as you can get the gear at such a great price to seriously consider the Raider rods in place of the Starlo Stix, Stef knows the ins and outs of both would be interested in his comments on this!

On the light spin/bait combo again I'v got a 2500 Symetre loaded with 16lb braid but have a Silstar Elite EL64ML rod which so far hasn't even come close to letting me down. Yet again there's some real nice Shimano's that would suit the reel and fishing you're planning to do with it!

Either way no matter what you choose I hope you have a great time in this Land Downunder mate!

Cheers
Jason

[Martijnf]

Thanks Jason,

I'll give the raiders a go anyway when I'm over there, see what they feel like compared to the SSX's

What line you running on the 6500?

Also have been looking around a bit better (gumtree, ebay and tradingpost) and seems that a small tinny might be in the budget.. damn this fishing thing, it keeps stretching my budget! :D

[jacobvz]

Hi Martin,

A small tinnie does not fit in a backpack, at least last time I checked.
So you need to be getting yourself a reliable second hand car as well.
Travelling for two years that might be a valid investment anyways.

Jack

[Bass flicker]

It sounds like your have done your research I think you will have a good few setups there and considering your buying a 4wd (should buy a Land Rover) youll have no problems carting them all around.

You should also look in all the second hand stores over hear as they often have older, but very good quality gear cheap, and the gear is usually suited to the waters around the location of that shop. If you want to do some CRAZY fishing, catching all the big ones youll need to focus your attentions on places like Gove in the northern territory. Its some of the best fishing in Australia. Good Luck mate:warp:

[storms72]

Martin, I am using either 50lb Pioneer Palladium braid or 15kg Pioneer blue ocean mono.....Kinda the same as with my Symetre-16lb pioneer Palladium Braid and 4lb Siglon Mono.

I just like to mix it up.....And as great as some say braid casts I still prefer to go light in mono when a long cast is required-personal preference which I am entitled too!

With the fishing you are going to be doing prolly better to ask someone like Bass Flicker on suitable lines to get mate-he's done more travel than I!

Jason

[Martijnf]

Hey Jason,

You're using 2 spools on the baitrunner then I take it? Where did you get yours from? I've seen them in the US for like $25 but with postage that adds up..

Also maybe one of you can clear this up for me cause it's a bit confusing: If I get a boat, I guess I will have to get a licence for it as well. However since I am not a resident of any state, how will that work? I mean I can get the licence in NSW (or Vic cause I believe that's cheaper/easier) but will that be valid for the whole country?

[jacobvz]

You only need a boat license if you go faster than 10knots (regardless of how fast your boat can go)

As for rego on the boat. I believe if you get a boat that is not capable of going faster than 10 knots you do not need rego (but that might be NSW only)
All other questions, I suggest you contact NSW maritime office.

Jack

[Martijnf]

You only need a boat license if you go faster than 10knots (regardless of how fast your boat can go)

Yeah that's in NSW but in Vic and WA it's anything over 6hp and in Qld you just need a licence for anything with an engine on it.. might have gotten the states mixed up but basically it's different everywhere but I'll give them a ring or something. Could always pretend I'm a dumb tourist who doesn't get it but don't want to run into steep fines and what not :)

[jacobvz]

They might have something for tourists but I doubt it.

If possible just get a license. It is easy and fairly inexpensive.
It is definately a lot simpler than Holland.
Just the basics.

Jack

just checked:

Recognition of Licences

Temporary recognition of licences is available to visitors from interstate or overseas.
A NSW licence is not required when:

your usual place of residence is outside NSW, and
you have not been in NSW continuously during the three months preceding the date on which you are driving the vessel, and
you hold and carry a valid current licence or permit to drive a vessel of the type you are driving issued under the legislation of another State, Territory or country.If any of the above conditions cannot be met and you wish to drive a power-driven vessel at 10 knots or more or a PWC regardless of its speed on navigable waters in NSW, you must hold a current NSW General Licence or PWC Licence.

Please note you are required to comply with NSW boating laws while boating in this State. That includes carrying your licence when boating.

So I guess you'll have to get a license here.

[storms72]

Martin just going off the first two requirements if you have a boat lisence that is valid from your country you should be fine.

Mate my 6500 has only 1 spool I just remove and replace the line as required-my cordless drill does a great job when I need to get the line off. Might get around to buying a spare spool one day!

Cheers
Jason

[Martijnf]

Well my reels are in.. sitting there sad and alone in Jack's house waiting for me to arrive..

http://www.boathousemedia.nl/martijn/reels.jpg

have to say they're looking pretty sweet.. can't wait to get stuck in to this fishing business down your side of the planet!

[Dog Catcher]

Martijnf only just read this thread & was surprised by this

I've got a buddy going to the States next week who can get me the reels from there

I'm assuming your flight will be stoping in @ least Singapore ???

That's where you should've purchased your gear would've been a hell of alot cheaper than the USA.

Noticed no overhead setups ??

You'll need them when over in WA

[TomMc]

Very nice gear mate...

[Martijnf]

Hey DC,

my mate ended up not going, well at least not at a time when it's useful for me. I'm flying by way of Dubai so can't get my gear in Singapore. Three reels cost me around $300 this way, so that's not too bad considering the BTR alone would've been $199 in Oz.

No overheads yet, no. I'm looking at them though, but will get those later on the trip when I'm more proficient with my fishing and will have a better idea of what I'm buying, other than from just reading stuff on the internet.

What type of setup do you reckon I would need in WA?

[imnotafish]

looks pretty much like what i would take round oz as an all round set up Martin. Prob would have a big overhead too like dc said but then dunno how much else i would take other than fishing gear if that started. :wiink: you wont need one all that often anyway..
put minimum 50lb braid on the 6500 (use a strong braid like fireline that just wont break, not a thin jap jigging one, even though it wont cast as well). then sometimes you'll win sometimes youll lose but youll always be in the fight.... (unless you keep hooking sharks)
then get 20lb braid on the 4000sym and 10lb on the 2500 and you're on your way...

[Martijnf]

looks pretty much like what i would take round oz as an all round set up Martin. Prob would have a bigger overhead like dc said but then dunno how much else i would take other than fishing gear if that started. :wiink:
lol tell me about it. Started out with just getting a car and 1 or 2 rods.. now it's a car, a boat (with fishfinder and possible along the way a trolling motor), 3 rods and then probably at least 2 more setups along the way. Like a 24kg short stroker, maybe a baitcaster setup...

put minimum 50lb braid on the 6500 (use a strong braid like fireline that just wont break, not a thin jap jigging one). sometimes you'll win sometimes youll lose but youll always be in the fight.... (unless you keep hooking sharks)
then get 20lb braid on the 4000sym and 10lb on the 2500 and you're on your way...
Hmm interesting.. I was thinking 25lb platypus super-100 on the 6500 so as I'm not constantly fishing too heavy, which I could then exchange for maybe some heavier braid when I get up north/out west.

looking at:
spooling the 2500 with 6lb spiderwire stealth and 10 or 12lb mono
spooling the 4000 with 15lb mono and maybe 20lb braid on the other spool

That way I've got a pretty good range.

[TomMc]

Maybe buy a second spool for your 6500 and have a lighter mono and a heavier braid?

[storms72]

Martin on the 2500 you'd want lighter mono than 10 or 12lb, I'm using 4lb on mine and only just got over 100m on it-if its gonna be for lures work and smaller fish like bream and flatties etc you shouldn't need anything heavier than 6lb this will still allow you to cast light lures and plastics accurately and a fair distance. The braid you mention would be fine!

[Martijnf]

It has two spools tho, I'll use the braid for flicking lures and for lighter fishing, figured I'd spool the second one with a little bit heavier mono for rougher conditions.. with super-100 it should be able to hold enough though... it's rated at 170yards of normal 6lb and the super-100 is a lot thinner.. can't figure how you'd only be able to fit 100m of 4lb on there.

Anyway we'll see about that, I won't bother with it straight away since I'll start by using it as light spinning setup with 6lb braid, I've got the 4000 if I need to go heavier. Thanks for the tip tho

[Dog Catcher]

Hey DC,



No overheads yet, no. I'm looking at them though, but will get those later on the trip when I'm more proficient with my fishing and will have a better idea of what I'm buying, other than from just reading stuff on the internet.

What type of setup do you reckon I would need in WA?

Mate I really wouldn't really think about getting a boat sure they would come in handy up north but pretty sure you'd be able to get a few rides in some if you stayed in an area long enough.

Plus with boats or any type of fushing you really need to have a bit of local knowledge in order to make that boat effective.

I originally put together my wittle 4.8 meter tinny solely for the purpose of taking it around Oz & I doubt I would've been using in much other in the bays/rivers esp when you get over to Sth Oz or WA as you get some big tides & sea's.

And I'm no novice when it comes to handling boats & know my way around both Bush & Sea, once you start getting into the remote area's well it could get a wee bit on the dangerous side for a novice.

We have Bunyips over here you know & they like to eat people from Holland :rolling laughter:

Getting back to a overhead outfit ??

The reason I mentioned it is when you get over to place's like WA or even the Nth & Sth coasts of NSW there's some nice pelagics to be caught, 2 most important advantages of a overhead are

Line capacity
Lower gearing [ very usefull in WA cause you'll be fishing high cliffs]


It all depends on your budget ?? lever drags are prob the way to go but not a neccessity, many moons ago when I did fish the stones I used a Daiwa Sealine 600 for many years even though I had lever drag reels found it lighter & after I suped up the drag system it was very smooth.

If you're looking @ a star drag overhead & dont want to spend a fortune sealines or the penn senators both were a good popular reel & I'd rather have one of those than some of the cheap newer ones available on the shelves these days.

[Martijnf]

Well we'll see about the boat.. I don't like to depend on other people too much, especially since I'll mainly be out and about and not in populated areas too much as well as moving around quite a bit.. but like I said, we'll see.

Plus no Ozzie fish is going to eat a skinny dutch guy if he can have a well fattened local instead :P

I was looking at a Penn Senator II 114 actually.. but when you say using it for pelagics from cliffs and stuff.. what would you be spooling it with and matching it up with.. would have to be a bigger rod I guess. Lever drag is nice but from what I've read the star drags cast a lot better since the lever is never truly in freespool, is that true or just depending on the reel?

[Dog Catcher]

Plus no Ozzie fish is going to eat a skinny dutch guy if he can have a well fattened local instead

Bunyips aren't fish & they'll eat anthything skinny dutch guys :rolling laughter:

It all boils down to personal tastse with any outfit & dont know if I'm the right person to advise you as I've allways been one for light lines.
Rarely ever fished heavier than 10 kg when I was into Land Based Game when everyone else was fishing 15 or 24 kg line class.

So derive your own decision from that